podcast

Jul 02

Devon O’Day

By Chrissy Bernal Author, Music, Podcast No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, Gary sits down with the remarkable Devin O’Day, a beloved voice in country music radio whose career has touched countless lives. Together, they reminisce about their early days in small-town stations, swapping stories filled with humor, resilience, and a genuine love for community connection.

Devon opens up about her journey from aspiring careers to becoming a full-time broadcaster, author, audiobook narrator, and hit songwriter. Tune in and discover what it means to honor your passions, no matter where the road takes you.

This episode is sponsored by:

(Bring your dream cabinet to life!)

(Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!)

In this Episode:

Why local radio is a lifeline for so many communities
Hear behind-the-scenes stories of radio life and insights into the art of audiobook narration
Devon’s songwriting successes with George Strait, Trace Adkins, and Lee Ann Womack
The joys (and mishaps) of early broadcasting in Louisiana and Alabama
Embracing new media without losing your roots

Quotations:

“I always found that some of the people that I met in country music, where they came from and what they had to overcome, was more inspiring than any song they ever recorded. ” ~ Devon O’Day

“I think the only hope we have in radio right now is the small, independently owned stations.” ~ Devon O’Day

“The whole joy of radio is communication. That’s what we do.” ~ Devon O’Day

“When I was little, people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I said, I just don’t want to be bored. And I love a lot of things.” ~ Devon O’Day

“I love books, and I love reading, and then I just started realizing that people didn’t read, and they didn’t read because they can’t focus when they open up a book. But I said, if I can take people and I could read to them and get them into a book, oh, wouldn’t that be fun?” ~ Devon O’Day

“My goal before I left this planet was I wanted to write a book that would be in libraries.” ~ Devon O’Day

“God never forgets a dream that he puts in your heart. God doesn’t forget.” ~ Devon O’Day

“If you go back and look at your little kid list, your little kid is always smarter than your big kid. You’re a kid.” ~ Devon O’Day

“I feel like God has always put somebody in my path. And I don’t think there’s ever any accident. If you notice who’s in your path. There aren’t accidents. Even the people who were not wonderful, fun experiences usually taught you something.” ~ Devon O’Day

“You never know what’s going to happen. I said, some days are diamonds, some days are stone. But for the most part, you just wait for the magic to happen and pay attention.” ~ Devon O’Day

Bio:

Devon O’Day is a storyteller at heart, a seasoned radio personality, speaker, author, voice actor, and champion for creatives. With a career of over 30 years in broadcast, Devon has hosted nationally syndicated shows, voiced thousands of commercials, and written books that inspire and uplift. Beyond the mic, she’s a proud advocate for kindness, purpose-driven living, and the power of faith. Whether sharing her journey or elevating others, Devon brings warmth, grit, and heart to every conversation.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://devonoday.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devonoday

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devonodaysnashville/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@devonoday

Jun 25

Love34

Meghan Patrick

By Chrissy Bernal Music, Podcast No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, Meghan Patrick returns to reflect on how her life and her music have evolved over the past few years. Meghan shares what it really takes to stay true in an industry that rewards masks more than authenticity.

We talk about the fatigue behind the spotlight, the courage it takes to walk away from toxic relationships (even when they’re family), and how songwriting helped her process deep personal wounds. Megan opens up about the emotional weight behind songs like “Blood From a Stone” and “Golden Child,” offering listeners comfort, connection, and clarity through her vulnerability. Listen now!

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!)

In this episode:

Meghan’s evolution as an artist and human
The power of having a team who gets you
Choosing authenticity over virality
Healing through songwriting
The realities of navigating toxic family dynamics
Why drudgery is part of the dream

Quotations:

“If I have to be less myself to get you to like me, then you’re not for me, and that’s fine.” ~ Meghan Patrick

“The first step is figuring out who you are, and that definitely does take some time.” ~ Meghan Patrick

“There was no way I was ever not gonna want to make music, write songs, or perform because that’s who I am.” ~ Meghan Patrick

“How many of those overnight viral sensations are actually gonna have longevity and still be able to maintain that for a long-lasting career? And I don’t hope that for any of them. And I’m not shading these people. That’s great for them. I’m not saying they’re undeserving or anything; I’m just saying that one viral moment does not mean that you are going to have a long-lasting career, and that’s the only kind of career I’m interested in.” ~ Meghan Patrick

“You know what is sustainable? Fans, real fans who love you, who will follow you to the ends of the earth, who will buy every record you make, who will spend, save for months and months to come see your show and then buy your t-shirts and that, when they get in the car with their friends, like, let me show you this song, and they want to play their favorite artist.” ~ Meghan Patrick

“Why do I feel have to act like I have more money than I do? That’s crazy. For the fans, they don’t care. Matter of fact, they might like me more if they understood that, like, yeah, I’m just like you. I’m struggling with this as well. And just being honest and real with your fans about what’s going on in your life. And that took a lot of courage for me to get to a place where I felt like I could do that, where I could let them know, like, I’m not perfect all the time. I don’t have it together all the time. And I’m struggling and frustrated with some of the same things that you are.” ~ Meghan Patrick

“I know that God gave me a gift of music, the gift to be able to sing and to be able to write songs, but I think even more importantly than that and beyond that, I realized that part of my calling was not just to sing and write songs; it was to use my gift to help others. It was to use my gift to talk about the hard stuff, the very real-life stuff that that nobody really wants to talk about because it’s uncomfortable.” ~ Meghan Patrick

“There are people walking around with a piece of their heart broken for their whole lives. I mean, it happens every day.” ~ Meghan Patrick

“I just wish people understood that, like, dude, put your time and energy into things you do like, not things you hate. If you don’t like it, then just move on.” ~ Meghan Patrick

Bio:

Meghan Patrick is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter originally from Ontario, known for blending raw vulnerability with fierce confidence. A two-time CCMA Female Artist of the Year with 19 CMAOntario Awards, Meghan’s music unpacks the grit, grace, and truth of life on her own terms. Her latest album, Golden Child, marks a powerful turning point, diving into personal healing, hard-earned wisdom, and what she now calls Big Sister Country, where strength and intimacy coexist. From bluegrass to funk to country, Meghan’s musical journey defies easy labels, but one thing’s clear: when she tells her story, people listen.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://www.meghanpatrickmusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MegPatrickMusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MegPatrickMusic/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MeghanPatrickMusic

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@megpatrickmusic

Jun 18

Love21

Jedidiah Collins

By Chrissy Bernal Author, Education, Podcast, Professional Athlete, Sports No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, our host Gary sits down with former NFL fullback Jedidiah “Jed” Collins, now a financial educator, author, and founder of Money Vehicle. From playing with the New Orleans Saints to launching a financial literacy movement, Jed shares what it means to lead with purpose both on and off the field.

If you’re a football fan or just trying to get smarter with your money, this one’s for you.

This episode is sponsored by:

In this Episode:

The NFL Days: Stories from Jed’s time with the Saints, team culture, and what it was really like to play with legends like Drew Brees.
The Fullback Mindset: Why the most underrated positions can teach us the most about teamwork and grit.
Failing Forward: How the NFL taught Jed to embrace failure and channel it into growth.
Building Legacy Over Lifestyle: Why top athletes and all of us should be thinking about impact, not just income.
A Saints Fan for Life: Gary shares his childhood fandom and why the Saints always felt like more than just a team.
Money Vehicle Mission: Jed’s passion project teaching students how to make smart financial decisions early.
Why Financial Literacy Matters: Especially for athletes entering sudden wealth, real talk on fraud, fame, and responsibility.
Entrepreneurship & Life After Sports: The parallels between athletics and business, and how resilience shows up in both.

Quotations:

“I think that’s the message that everybody needs to take, not just in football, but in life. You’re gonna lose, you’re gonna be beat, you’re gonna have things go the wrong way that you never expected. As an entrepreneur, I’m realizing this on a daily basis. But all I can control is the message I put out, the person that I am, and the decisions that I make. And I like that. If we’re gonna roll the dice, let’s do it with my best foot forward.” ~ Jedidiah Collins

“I don’t control the outcome. I control the input.” ~ Jedidiah Collins

“I love the beauty of sport because it translates all of these messages into the reality of life. If I’m going to go down, I’m going to go down swinging with my best punches.” ~ Jedidiah Collins

“When I got humbled, I went back and did what I do best, which is get better inch by inch. But you look at these first round picks and everybody says, how does this kid with all the talent in the world not achieve what we wanted him to do? And it’s simple. You never gave them the atmosphere or the preparation to fail. And confidence doesn’t come from success. Confidence doesn’t come from getting drafted in the first round. Confidence comes from getting on the field. getting rep after rep after rep and losing most of those reps, identifying how you lost and then having the plan to continue to go forward.” ~ Jedidiah Collins“

I’m a hard guy to kill. You can’t get rid of me. And I’m going to figure out a way to make this thing better. And once I do, then you find my role.” ~ Jedidiah Collins

Bio:

Jedidiah Collins, CFP®, is a former NFL fullback, Amazon best-selling author, adjunct professor, and Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) with a passion for financial education. His journey to financial empowerment didn’t begin with a textbook but with personal experience—after being cut 12 times, he persevered to become the #1 fullback in the NFL.

While living the dream of playing professional football, Jed faced a harsh reality: he was unprepared for the financial opportunities that came with success. Determined to change that, he pursued his CFP® certification while still in the league. After transitioning from football, he gained real-world experience in wealth management but soon realized his true passion wasn’t in helping people end their financial journey—it was in empowering those who had never spoken the language of money to begin theirs.

To fulfill this mission, Jed founded Money Vehicle, an education technology company providing schools and students with a roadmap to financial freedom through an engaging and accessible financial literacy curriculum.

Today, Jed is a passionate advocate for financial awareness, helping professional athletes capture their dreams while also guiding young professionals to start theirs.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://yourmoneyvehicle.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jedidiah-collins/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullbackoffinance/

Jun 11

Love21

Dustin Gutkowski

By Chrissy Bernal Business, Music, Personal Growth, Podcast No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, be ready for a deeply inspiring conversation as we sit down with Dustin Gutkowski, entrepreneur, family man, and host of The DG Show, who went from being homeless at 14 to building a $100 million business. With a heart as big as Texas and a love for 90s country music, Dustin opens up about what fuels him: storytelling, fatherhood, resilience, and relationships. Give it a listen today!

This episode is sponsored by:

(Bring your dream cabinet to life!)

(Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!)

In this Episode:

Dustin’s rise from hardship to hope
Dive into discussions about love for 90s country and artists like Midland, The Cadillac Three, and Post Malone
Understand how Dustin’s personal struggles inform his parenting philosophy
Building a people-first business in the roofing industry
What it means to be your child’s hero

Quotations:

“I’d probably fight someone over Midland, and I’m not proud of that but I would go there, like I will defend them.“ ~ Dustin Gutkowski

“No matter how famous, no matter how successful, no matter where everybody’s at in their life, they all have a story. And you just, you figure out that, like, although all of our stories are different per se, they’re all the same.” ~ Dustin Gutkowski

“You being unique and you being you is what makes you special. But when you really peel back the layers, it’s like, we’ve all been through this stuff. We’ve all been through something, and it’s really unique to hear people’s stories and how they got there. And it almost gives you a different perspective from your story.” ~ Dustin Gutkowski

“When it got hard for me, I was going to double down. And I was just going to keep going because I was like, what do I have to lose? Man, I’m just a white trash kid from the trailer park that was homeless at 14. Like, what do I have to lose? Like, what’s the worst thing that’s going to happen to me? It’s already happened to me. And I just had that mindset of, I’m one day going to get there and I’m going to keep going, keep going, keep going.” ~ Dustin Gutkowski

“Winning is more fun than fun is fun.” ~ Dustin Gutkowski

“I really had a complex of thinking I was better than everyone from a standpoint. I thought there was no one out there that could compete with me, but I also had a high insecurity that everybody was outworking me, everybody was better than me. And so I had to constantly try to get better at things. And so I just had such a competitive nature that I competed at everything I did. And as I got older, I realized this could be a real difference maker for me because most people are scared to compete, and most people are afraid to because they’d rather be friends and fail than go out there and have people hate them to be great. And I’m like, look, not everybody’s got to like me. I’m not here. This isn’t a popularity contest.” ~ Dustin Gutkowski

“I’m not worried about everybody liking me. When I go home, I worry about what my wife thinks of me and my three children. And that’s it. And I fundamentally ground myself in everything I do is predicated on being a good father. That’s like, that’s my legacy. Like, what do my kids say about me? How do my kids turn out? If I’m not my kid’s hero, I have bigger things to worry about. And so every single thing I do is predicated on being a good father.” ~ Dustin Gutkowski

“I’m just trying to be my kid’s hero. And when it’s all said and done and my clock strikes zero, like, what are my kids going to say about me? That’s all I care about.” ~ Dustin Gutkowski

“I watch how other people treat their kids. Because to me, it’s like the one person that counted on you the most was the person you decided to bring into this world. And if you can’t be there for them, well, you’re not going to be there for me and you’re not going be there for anyone else.” ~ Dustin Gutkowski

“I want to be the person I was supposed to be. And how I do that is look, when the door is closed and the lights are off and no one sees what you’re doing, what kind of decisions do you make? If no one would ever find out, what do you make?” ~ Dustin Gutkowski

“Whose story is bigger? It doesn’t matter. Have some empathy towards other people.” ~ Dustin Gutkowski

Bio:

Dustin Gutkowski is the founder of Results Roofing, a DFW-based company serving residential, commercial, and multi-family clients. Built on the belief that relationships matter more than transactions, Dustin created a culture rooted in gratitude, service, and kindness—shaped by his own journey from homelessness at 14 to business leadership. A champion for both customers and employees, he ensures every client receives above-and-beyond care, including a complimentary 360° inspection with photo documentation. Dustin is also the host of The DG Show podcast, where he shares real stories of resilience, business, and personal growth.